Abstract: In forging hammers, according to the present invention, more than one inlet valve is employed and more than one exhaust may be employed. The force of impact for a particular blow is controlled by the number of valves employed and the timing of the opening and closing of those valves relative to one another. By making successive adjustments with different combination of valves, the controls may be calibrated so that the same ram force may be repeated. Knowing the valve settings required to produce differing amounts of force, it is possible to program the settings into the memory of a computer, so that when a particular impact force is selected the appropriate valve timing will be reproduced and the desired force obtained. It is also possible to set up a sequence of blows of differing selected force, setting each blow using the computer memory.

Abstract: A forging hammer employs compressible fluid to drive the ram into impact and a trapped volume of compressible fluid to cause the ram to be retracted from impact position when fluid driving the ram into impact is released. The velocity of impact is adjusted by the timing of the opening of a valve allowing variable amounts of compressible fluid into a cylinder from a compressible fluid supply. Historical data is accumulated on a given forging hammer correlating the peak lifting fluid pressure with ram stroke. Thereafter, it is possible by measuring lifting fluid pressure and obtaining the peak value to determine the stroke by comparing the measured value against compiled pressure vs. stroke data for various residual lifting air pressures. Knowing the dimensions of dies and other structures employed with a forging hammer, it is then possible to calculate the rate of deformation from the forging size of the previous blow and the forging size of the current blow.

Abstract: A forging hammer employs compressible fluid to drive the ram into impact and a trapped volume of compressible fluid to cause the ram to be retracted from impact position when fluid driving the ram into impact is released. The velocity of impact is adjusted by the timing of the opening of a valve allowing variable amounts of compressed fluid into a cylinder from a compressible fluid supply. As the ram is driven into impact, the compressible fluid which causes the ram to be retracted is compressed and increases in pressure. The peak of pressure in this trapped volume of compressible fluid is sensed and compared with a peak value of reference pressure which represents a desired impact energy. If there is an error between the measured peak and the desired peak effect, an incrementing or decrementing signal is provided to correct the valve to adjust the effect of the next blow.

Abstract: A forging hammer employs compressible fluid to drive the ram into impact and a trapped volume of compressible fluid to cause the ram to be retracted from impact position when fluid driving the ram into impact is released. The velocity of impact is adjusted by the timing of the opening of a valve allowing variable amounts of compressible fluid into a cylinder from a compressible fluid supply. Pressure sensing means is provided to sense the pressure of the lifting fluid, calculating means for calculating kinetic energy from the rate of change of lifting air pressure, comparator means for comparing kinetic energy with a standard and a counter for accumulating error. Sensing the rate of change of pressure of the lifting fluid permits calculation of the velocity of the hammer. Kinetic energy at the time of impact is calculated from the velocity and the mass of the ram assembly.

Abstract: A die forging hammer senses the pressure of striking air and the pressure of lifting air from within the cylinder as well as ram start position. Various empirical information is stored and available to a computer which uses the inputs to compute velocity ram position, rebound velocity and other pieces of information. In order to use the lifting air data, sequential pressure measurements are made by a microprocessor and stored for analysis and for use in deriving from stored empirical information about machine characteristics ram velocity and related information. Three types of systems are interwoven and may be used separately or simultaneously to control the blow control system. Different programs are employed, preferably using algorithms applicable to the equipment in processes to derive desired output or intermediate information.

Abstract: A die forging hammer senses the pressure of striking air and the pressure of lifting air from within the cylinder as well as ram start position. Various empirical information is stored and available to a computer which uses the inputs to compute velocity, ram position, rebound velocity and other pieces of information. In order to use the lifting air data, sequential pressure measurements are made by a microprocessor and stored for analysis and for use in deriving from stored empirical information about machine characteristics ram velocity and related information. Three types of systems are interwoven and may be used separately or simultaneously to control the blow control system. The blow control system itself compares input desired results with computed actual results and enables changes to valve timing to bring the actual into conformity with the desired.

Abstract: Opposing hydraulic rams are supported in cylinders on cylinder beams connected together and then connected with a intermediate resistance beam by low yield connection bars, thereby reducing shearing stresses at the foundation. Hydraulic controls operate rams in the first mode to clamp an axle between opposing rams or to release a clamped axle. In one driving mode one ram drives the clamped axle, which, in turn, drives the other ram axially in one direction. In the other driving mode the other ram drives the one in the opposite direction. In demounting members, the resistance beam or extensions bear against a member pressed onto the axle to restrain such member as the axle continues to move through until the member is loosened. In mounting members, opposition to axial movement of such a member loosely on the axle or ram extensions is provided by a yoke extension of the cylindrical beam to cause said members to be pressed onto the axle as the axle continues to move.

Abstract: A pair of hydraulic stabilizing cylinders are supported on a common frame parallel to the main pneumatic drive cylinders driving counter-blow hammer impellers. The stabilizing piston within each stabilizing cylinder is connected to its adjacent impeller. Those ends of the respective stabilizing cylinders adjacent the impeller are connected to the opposite ends of the other stabilizing cylinders by fluid filled hydraulic lines. Because the cylinders and pistons are the same size, as the impellers move, fluid is transferred from one end of each cylinder to the other end of the other. However, should the impellers not move in synchronism toward their point of impact, that impeller tending to move ahead of the other will experience resistance from the fluid in the stabilizing system which tends to keep the impellers in step. In addition, means is provided to detect differences in position of the synchronizing pistons.

Abstract: Opposing hydraulic rams are supported in cylinders on cylinder beams connected together and then connected with a intermediate resistance beam by low yield connection bars, thereby reducing shearing stresses at the foundation. Hydraulic controls operate rams in the first mode to clamp an axle between opposing rams or to release a clamped axle. In one driving mode one ram drives the clamped axle, which, in turn, drives the other ram axially in one direction. In the other driving mode the other ram drives the one in the opposite direction. In demounting members, the resistance beam or extensions bear against a member pressed onto the axle to restrain such member as the axle continues to move through until the member is loosened. In mounting members, opposition to axial movement of such a member loosely on the axle or ram extensions is provided by a yoke extension of the cylindrical beam to cause said members to be pressed onto the axle as the axle continues to move.

Abstract: Switch means on the frame of a forging device senses when the ram and piston enter a first zone of a pneumatic cushion during retraction to initiate timing. If a predetermined time has expired before the ram leaves the first zone, the fluid inlet valve is opened. If not, switch means senses when the ram and piston enter a second zone to initiate a second timing. If a second predetermined time expires before the ram leaves the second zone, the fluid inlet valve is opened. If not, switch means senses when the ram and piston enter a third zone, and after a predetermined time the fluid inlet valve is opened. Thus, by sensing ram position and measuring time ram remains within each zone, the effective upward velocity (distance/time) is measured and adaptive controls applied.